Job summary
Applewood House is a 15 bedded male acute unit located in Swindon Wiltshire. We work with a range of service users who are presenting as acutely unwell and in crises.

We are looking for professional and enthusiastic nurses to come and work with our wonderful team of qualified nurses, HCA's, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapist, Exercise Specialists, Activities Coordinator and Doctors.

There will be opportunities to develop and continue your professional and learning development alongside the expectation of duties of the job outlined below.

This role is within a acute inpatient ward that operates on a 24/7 shift basis. Staff will qualify for unsocial enhancements in addition to their basic pay.

Successful applicants will also be required to undertake and complete a Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression course. This enables staff to begin building the skills to de escalate service users in peaks of distress whilst maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment for all.

Main duties of the job
To carry out clinical practice within designated clinical areas, ensuring that high quality evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided.

This will include:

• Undertaking a comprehensive, person-centred, nursing assessment and prepare care plans in consultation with the service users to provide the best nursing care.
• Implementation of care and rehabilitation programme.
• Evaluation of effectiveness of care provided in partnership with users.
• Ability to implement research-based practice.
• Following successful completion of preceptorship, ability to supervise junior and unqualified staff.
• Ability to administer medicine within relevant Trust and legislative guidance e.g. NMC Standards for Medicines Management 2010 and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.o Ability to undertake risk assessment and develop risk management strategies for individual clients; ICPA/SAP to people who present with mental health problems.

About us
We are the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

We aim to provide High Quality, Compassionate Care everywhere, every day. This means our services will be safe, clinically effective and provide a positive all round experience for our patients, families and carers. And we believe passionately in treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy.

Key to this is providing a supportive and safe environment for our 4,000 staff where we all feel welcome and able to do the best we can for those we support. Our staff and teams work incredibly hard delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering 2,200miles, to more than 1.8million people.At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Details
Date posted: 25 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 342-SWN057-0926
Job locations: Applewood House, Highworth Road, Swindon, SN3 4WF, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Clinical Nursing Practice
To carry out clinical nursing practice within designated areas, working to provide high quality, evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, intervention and evaluation.

This will include:

• Utilising excellent communication skills to develop a rapport with service users, carers, colleagues and visitors.
• Provide and receive complex sensitive confidential information.
• Recognising the potential barriers to communication and practicing with empathy, reassurance and understanding.
• Undertaking comprehensive nursing assessments using analytical and judgement skills.
• Collaboratively undertaking clinical risk assessments and developing and supporting personal safety plans and crisis and contingency planning with the service user, and where appropriate carers and families.
• Using professional, clinical knowledge acquired through training to degree/diploma level and current practice-based evidence to plan and organise provision of care.
• Planning appropriate care and treatment interventions alongside colleagues, service users and where appropriate carers and families.
• Providing specialist advice in relation to care to service users and where appropriate carers and families.
• Delivering a range of psychosocially-informed nursing therapies in accordance with service users care plans, needs and preferences.
• Utilise opportunities to offer health promotion and education.
• Demonstrating developed nursing skills obtained through practice, understanding the importance of accuracy and a narrow margin for error.
• Demonstrating a commitment to reducing restrictive practice.
• Administering appropriate medication within relevant Trust and legislative guidance.
• Ensuring the ordering, storing and disposal of medication complies with relevant Trust and legislative guidance.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the key elements of the relevant Mental Health Legislation.
• Collaboratively evaluating the impact and effectiveness of care and working to improve these outcomes.
• Supervising the practice of less experienced and newly qualified practitioners, student nurses or support worker colleagues.

Continuing Professional Development
To maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure best practice delivery including evidence based, current and responsive interventions in line with the changing needs of the service user and the service.

This will include:

• Taking responsibility for post-registration education and for continuing professional development as outlined in NMC standards.
• Participating in education and training opportunities.
• Undertaking a thorough revalidation process in line with NMC and AWP policy.
• Maintaining up to date knowledge of the relevant medicines, related medication management issues, and act in accordance with the appropriate NMC standards and Trust guidance.
• Abiding by the legal rules, statutory regulations and professional responsibilities in relation to practice as outlined in the NMC code of conduct.
• Receiving restorative clinical supervision on a regular basis in line with the Trust clinical supervision policy.
• Engaging in management supervision from an identified line manager, or appropriate delegate, in line with the Trust management supervision policy.
• Engaging with Trust appraisal process in line with policy. Maintaining Health and Safety in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
• Working within the Trust Policies and Procedures. 3. Education, Development and Collaborative Learning.

To work towards a sustainable culture of continuous collaborative learning to keep own practice clinically current, and to foster a team learning ethos.

This will include:

• Support effective learning environments by upholding the NHSE Safe Learning Environment Charter principles.
• Modelling nursing skills and promoting the value of clinical nursing to modern mental healthcare at any opportunity including demonstrating own activities to new starters, less experienced practitioners and students.
• Providing advice, mentoring and supervision (both management and clinical) for colleagues.
• Acting as a Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor for a range of learners, and provide robust practice development and assessment experiences.
• Support other registrants to undertake a thorough revalidation process in line with NMC and AWP policy.

Recording, Reporting and Communication
To maintain standards of record keeping and associated administration in accordance with AWP Trust Policy and professional guidelines.

This will include:

• Keeping contemporaneous, chronological and accurate mental health records in accordance with NMC guidelines and Trust policy.
• Adhere to records management requirements as outlined in Trust policies and procedures.
• Practice within the legal requirements relevant to the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Legislation.
• Taking part in a rolling programme of audit.
• Undertaking relevant practice development and/or research activity.

Compassionate Leadership and Management
To use own skills, knowledge and resources to provide clinical leadership for colleagues and external professionals at all levels, acting as a professional ambassador for mental health and learning disabilities nursing, and related development activities.

To make best use of available workforce resources based on agreed staffing models ensuring provision of best care possible.

Follow Trust and Service Policies in regard to the security of the building/clients, to ensure safe practice and protection of clients, staff, visitors and members of the general public.

This will include:

• Using own skills, knowledge and resources to provide clinical leadership for all members of the MDT.
• Effectively managing own time.
• Undertaking the Nurse in Charge role in absence of a more senior nurse, or as part of developmental activity.
• Providing supervision for unregistered practitioners in accordance with Trust management and clinical supervision policies.
• Providing appraisals for junior staff in accordance with the Trust appraisal policy.
• Maintaining the safety of service users and staff within the inpatient setting and ensure legal obligations are fulfilled.
• Understanding any identified environmental risks and their mitigation plans.
• Taking part in environmental risk assessments as requested.
• Utilising electronic rostering systems.
• Managing temporary staffing resources in line with AWP guidance.
• Being familiar with and complying with all Policies and Procedures operational within the Trust.
• Maintaining stock control and a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources.

Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to work with a degree of autonomy, whilst also taking direction from senior colleagues.
• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and able to manage behaviour which may be challenging at times.

Desirable

• Ability to communicate in written and verbal English to a high standard, and basic numeracy skills.

Education
Essential

• RMN PIN

Desirable

• Experience within various MH settings

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Address: Applewood House, Highworth Road, Swindon, SN3 4WF, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Ward Manager
Itai Chipumha
i.chipumha@nhs.net
01793836841

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).